Surface condenser



Feb. 11, 1930. n. w. R. MORGAN SURFACE CONDENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1927 U U U U U \IL INVENTOR WITNESSES:

".W-R-M organ ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1930. D. w. R. MORGAN SURFACE CONDENSER 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 18 m 0 Y r E R o N m m H T R A m B N I Q 4 w 1 2 4 D 3 m 3 m 41 I III. 11' u D 0 O lP I lfiXiJl 1, 6 v 9 0 3 \WF. l o o no 4 0O 00 o lu a I L m o lkw n z IITIIH O 4 4 WITNESSES 2 Fig.4.

Feb. 11, 1930. D. w. R. MORGAN 1,746,841

SURFACE CONDENSER Filed June 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 mwmmim WITNESSES 2 INVENTOR 6. DWRMoI-Qom BY all a ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1930. 2

DAVID w. R. MORGAN, or swan'rnmonn,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTBIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- vmm ' SURFACE CONDENSER Application filed June 18,

My invention relates to multi-pass condensers of the type in which cooling surface is disposed on both sides of a central water box, and it has for an object to improve the 5 performance of condensers of'this type.

\ Inv some power installations, and especially where double-flow turbines are used, the volume of motive fluid exhaust is solarge that it is desirable to use either two condensers for a single exhaust, or to use a condenser having an inlet water box disposed centrally of the condensing surface, for otherwise, very long tubes would be required.

The latter practice would permit the circulating media to undergo a considerable change in temperature while passing throu h the nest, and thus, would tend to reduce t e efliciency of a condenser.

To meet these conditions, multi-pass con to densers have been provided with a central water box|through which circulating media is admitted to the cooling surface, which is disposed on both sides of the box, the circulating media being finally returned to the central water box and discharged therefrom.

In the operation of a multi-pass condenser of this type, the resistance to flow through the tubes, due to the accumulation of silt,'or for any other reason, may become greater on one side of the central water box than on the other, with the result that the streams of circulating media issuing from the tubes onthe opposite sides of the common water box may commingle with sufiicient shock to cause a water hammer.

Also, the power required to pass cooling media throu h the circulating system of a condenser, of the type described, can be considerably reduced by providing means for producing a smooth flow to and from the tubes associated with the common water box.

More particularly, therefore, an object of my invention is to provide a condenser, of the type described, with means for causing the circulating media to passsmoothl and without shock through the entire circu ating system.

Apparatus embodying the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

1927. Serial 110.199325.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a surface condenser;

v Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line II II of Fig. 1; 7

F ig..3 is an end elevation of a steam power installation; and,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

According to my invention the circulating water inlet and discharge connections for a multi-pass condenser are disposed in a central water box which is arranged to pass circulating water through the tubes in opposite directions, and to receive the circulating water from the tubes in the final pass. This inlet and dischar e water box is provided with a deflector fbr separating the streams flowing in opposite directions and for assuring a smooth flow for each stream. In this way, the circulating system of a condenser of this type is improved and the objections of loss of power, due to the absence of proper directing means, and also the occurrence of a water hammer due to unequal flow, are overcome.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show, in Figs. 1 and 2, a surface condenser indicated generally, at 10, comprising shell sections, 11 and 12, arranged in tandem, and provided with inlets 13 and hotwells 14, respectively. An inlet and discharge water box 16, is disposed between the shell sections 11 and 12, for supplying circulating media through nests of tubes, 17 and 18, which are disposed within the respective shell sections.

Centrally disposed, within the respective tube nests, 17 and 18, are air and non-condensable gas oiitakes 20, from which the noncondensables are removed, through the sides of the shell, by means of suitable connections (not shown).

The water box 16 is divided horizontally by a transversly-extending partition 19, to provide an inlet chamber 21, and a discharge chamber 22, the inlet chamber 21 supplying circulating media to tubes in the first pass of the respective nests, and the discharge chamber receiving circulating media from the tubes in the final pass. An inlet connection 23 is provided for supplying-circulating media to the chamber 21, and a discharge connection 24 is provided for passing circulating media from the chamber 22. Suitable return water boxes 26 are associated with the outer ends oi the nests for passing the cir culating media from the first-pass tubes to the second-pass tubes.

In order to provide for minimum resistance to flow through the chamber 21, and into the first-pass tubes, a suitable deflecting means, such as the partition 27, is disposed in the inlet chamber 21. The partition 27 preferably consists of a series of transverselyextending plates 28 which are secured, to the sides of the water box in any suitable manner, as by means of clips, or the like, 29. A triangular member 31 having concave outer walls is disposed adjacent to partition 19 so as to form, with the plates 28, smooth guiding walls for dividing the entering stream of circulating media, andto direct the divided portions of the stream in opposite directions to the first-pass tubes of the respective nests, 17 and 18. The plates 28 and the member 31 need not be water-tight for they serve merely as a separating and a directing means.

Similarly disposed above the partition 19,

and in the discharge chamber 22, is a parti tion means 32, which is also divided into sections for a purpose to be described later. The upper sections of the partition 32 comprise transversely-extending plates 33, while atriangular member 34, having concave sides, is disposed adjacent the partition 19 for at fording smooth flow, from the tubesin the final pass, along the guiding walls formed by the partition 32 and through the connection 24.

A manhole, 36, provided with a suitable cover 37, is disposed on the side of the water .box 16 and extends above and below the partition 19. a sufficient distance to permit the removal, through this manhole, of any one of the sections of the partitions 27, or "32. By

vir tueof this arrangement, it is possible, by

" removing one of the sections of a partition,

"to remove tubes, which are opposite the removed section,.through the common water box 16. Should it be desired to remove all the tubes this could be done from one end of the condenser as, for example, by removing the tubes of the nest 17, removing the partition member, or members, opposite the removed tubes, and then removing the tubes of the nest 18 through the common water box 16 and the shell 11.

In Fig. 3, the turbine 50 is provided with passages 51 and 52, respectively, for passing exhaust steam to the condenser 53, the latter beingof the same general type as the condenser shown in Fig. 1. In order to equalize the pressures in the respective passages 51 and 52, an equalizing conduit 56 is interposed between these passages for affording proper communication therebetween. While equalization of pressures might also be efv fected by placing the conduit 56 directly between the respective shell sections 11 and -12,

this would be undesirable as it would necessitate making the shells larger in order tov rangement shown in Fig. 3 wherein the.

equalizing conduit 56 is disposed between the inlet passages rather than between the shell sections.

The condensing apparatus, shown in Figs.

3 and 4, is similar in all respects to that shown l in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that the water box 16 is provided with a longitudinally-extending, vertical partition 39, for the purpose of cutting half of the condenser out of service during periods of light load, so

that tubes on the inactive side of the nest may be cleaned, or otherwise repaired. In this form of my invention inlet connections, 41 and 42, and discharge connections, 43 and 44, are provided for the purpose of rendering separately controllable those portions of the nest which are associated with the water chambers formed by the partition .39. Also, the sections of the respective partitions, 27 and 32', extend from the sides of the water box only to the partition 39, where they are secured in any suitable manner, as by means of angles or clips 46, Manholes 47,-provide'd with suitable covers 48, are located on each side'of the water box to-permit removal of tubes in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to more clearly point out some of 'the features of my invention, I show a wall, orother obstruction 56, located adjacent an end of the condenser 53. Should it be necessary to remove the tubes from a condenser in such a location, it would be necessary to first remove the tubes from the nest 57 on the right, as shown in the drawing, the procedure being otherwise the same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The removal of tubes from the condenser 53 is further simplified by using tubes in the nest 57 which are of slightly larger diameter than those on theleft in the nest 58. In both forms of condensers shown, the tubes of the respective nests are, preferably, aligned, so that a tube of onevnest, may be removed through the space made available by previ-: ously removing the aligned tube of the other thus improved the circulating system of a condenser of the type described and, that by virtue of the guiding and directing function of the walls of the respective partitions, 27 and 32,'the power required to pass circulating media through the condenser is reduced, and furthermore, that should the tubes in one of the nests, say, for example, the nest 17', become fouled, or otherwise obstructed, the difference in flow between the streams entering the discharge chamber 22 cannot cause a water hammer.

While, in the drawings, I have shown radial flow condensers which are provided with centrally disposed air and non-condensable gas offtakes, it will be obvious that the principles of my invention may be embodied in downflow condensers, in which case the air and the other non-condensable gases would be removed in the manner well known in the art.

While I have shown my invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a multi-pass surface condenser comprising condensing chambers arran ed in tandem, a nest of tubes in each cham er and arranged for passing circulating media therethrough'in opposite directions, a common inlet and discharge water box for the nests of tubes, of a number of transversely-extending division plates in the common water box and arranged to form guiding walls for dividing the stream of circulating media and for directing the divided portions of the stream through the circulating s stem of the condenser, and means for ermitting the removal of any of the division plates to permit the removal of tubes through the common water box.

2. The combination with a surface condenser having condensing chambers arranged in tandem, a nest of tubes in each chamber. a water space between the chambers, and wherein the tubes of one nest are insertable and removable across the water space, of baflle means in the water space and extending transversely with respect to the tubes, said baflle means bein insertable and removable transversel of t e tubes.

3. e combination with a surface condenser having condensing chambers arran in tandem, a nest of tubes in each cham r, and an inlet and discharge water box between the chambers, of a lurality of transversely extending and vertically aligned partition members in the water box and arranged to form a baflle for producing smooth flow, and

the partition members may means rovidin a closable opem'n on the side of the water box, whereb one or more of removed for permitting the insertion or removal of one or more of the tubes through the water box.

4. The combination with a surface condenser having condensing chambers arran ed in tandem, a nest of tubes in each cham er,

an inlet and discharge water box between the chambers, and wherein the tubes of one nest are insertable and removable through the inlet and discharge water box, of longitudinal- 1y extendin vertical and horizontal partitions in sai water box for providing independent systems for passing circulating media through the respective tube nests in parallel, and baflle means in the water box and extending transversely with respect to the tubes, said baflie means being insertable and removable transverse] of the tubes.

In testimony whereof, I ave hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of June, 1927.

DAVID W. R. MORGAN. 

